Fostered by ICON, the GoodNanoGuide is a highly collaborative, interactive
resource by and for the occupational safety and nanotechnology communities,
law and industry.

The GoodNanoGuide is a practical tool for people who handle nanomaterials as
well as an online repository of safety protocols. It has been developed by experts
from the worlds of nanotechnology, occupational safety and business and is governed
by an implementation committee from North America and Europe.

All GoodNanoGuide content is freely available via the Internet. Visitors may
add their comments by becoming "Community Members," and experts may
contribute and edit protocols by becoming "Expert Providers."

“Governmental agencies and occupational researchers are generating a
lot of good information about how to handle nanomaterials safely,” said
ICON Director Kristen Kulinowski, a faculty fellow in chemistry at Rice and
executive director of the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology.
“The GoodNanoGuide points to and supplements these resources with specific
protocols that can be used by workers in any setting where they are being handled.”

More than two years in development, the GoodNanoGuide was inspired by a challenge
set forth at the International Conference on Nanotechnology, Occupational and
Environmental, Health and Safety: Research and Practice, in Cincinnati in December
2006. That same year, an ICON survey of occupational practices for handling
nanomaterials revealed a great need for improved communication about best practices.

"Progress in addressing the occupational health implications of engineered
nanomaterials requires the open sharing of information and the development and
dissemination of good guidance," said Charles L. Geraci, chief of the Document
Development Branch in the Education and Information Division of the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and coordinator of NIOSH's
nanotechnology cross-sector program under the National Occupational Research
Agenda (NORA). "We are pleased to see international forums of the sort
offered by the ICON-sponsored GoodNanoGuide and the opportunity they provide
in particular for helping to disseminate NIOSH's research and recommendations,
and to make users aware of our resources."

The international nature of the GoodNanoGuide is important to its success,
said Steve Hankin, director of operations for SAFENANO, the United Kingdom's
premier independent resource on nanotechnology hazard and risk. "SAFENANO
is delighted to be involved with establishing and sustaining the GoodNanoGuide,"
Hankin said. "The initiative complements related nanotechnology risk activities
in the U.K., Europe and North America. SAFENANO sees the GoodNanoGuide as an
exciting means of capturing, appraising and cascading good practice -- on an
international basis -- to contribute to the knowledge base of nanotechnology
safety."

Financial support for the development of the GoodNanoGuide beta site was provided
by ICON, nanoAlberta, British Columbia Nanotechnology Alliance-Nanotech BC,
Industry Canada, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et
en sécurité du travail and NanoQuebec.